HEADLINES

Brandon Spikes

AFC Notes: Jets, Spikes, Raiders, Broncos

March 17th, 2014 at 6:17pm CST by Matt Feminis

Losing free agent Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to the Giants is not sitting well with members of the Jets who blame GM John Idzik for losing the player, reports Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. In a three-pack of Tweets, Mehta says Idzik blew it by letting Rodgers-Cromartie visit the Giants, quotes an employee saying Idzik “operates on his own time and schedule” and adds head coach Rex Ryan “is pissed” about losing out on Rodgers-Cromartie. This on the heels of Ryan reportedly wanting the team to bring back Darrelle Revis, who landed with the division rival Patriots.

In other AFC news:

  • Free agents Kevin Boothe and Alex Carrington “are still in the building,” according to San Francisco Chronicle Raiders beat writer Vic Tafur (via Twitter).
  • The Bills introduced Brandon Spikes on Monday (contract details here), and ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak relayed some of Spikes’ first comments as a Bill, most notably that Spikes chose Buffalo because of his relationship with Pepper Johnson.
  • The Broncos have made a handful of expensive free-agent additions, and ESPN.com’s Jeff Legwold explains how they were able lure and afford marquee talent. For starters, the roster consists of 34 players with cap hits of $2MM or less.
  • Packers free agent offensive lineman Marshall Newhouse will meet with the Bengals, according to ESPN’s Adam Caplan (via Twitter).

Brandon Spikes, Bills Agree To Deal

March 14th, 2014 at 10:06pm CST by Peter Sowards

10:06 pm: ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reports that Spikes’ deal with Buffalo is for one year and $3.25MM (via Twitter).

9:39 pm: Linebacker Brandon Spikes has agreed to a deal with the Bills, reports John Wawrow of the Associated Press (via Twitter).

Spikes was drafted by the Patriots in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft, playing in 51 games (with 39 starts) over the past four seasons. He fell out of favor with his former team, however, saying recently that he thinks both sides would benefit from a fresh start.

A run-stopping specialist, Spikes ranked first among inside linebackers against the run in both 2012 and 2013, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required).

With the Bills, Spikes looks poised to take over the middle linebacker job, as the team intends to move Kiko Alonso to the weak side linebacker spot in 2014, tweets Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. The 26-year-old will also be reunited with longtime Patriots coach Pepper Johnson, who is coaching the Bills’ defensive line in 2014.

Along with running back Anthony Dixon, who also signed the Bills tonight, Spikes had been in Buffalo visiting with the team. General manager Doug Whaley apparently made both players offers they couldn’t refuse.

AFC East Notes: Jets, Delmas, Bills

March 14th, 2014 at 1:47pm CST by Luke Adams

Let’s take a quick tour around the AFC East:

  • The Jets had several discussions with Brandon Pettigrew‘s camp and were one of three finalists for the tight end, but never extended a formal offer, tweets Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.
  • Robert Klemko of TheMMQB.com provides an interesting look at safety Louis Delmas‘ experience as a free agent, which included a two-hour window to decide on whether or not to accept the Dolphins‘ offer. Delmas ultimately decided to sign with Miami.
  • Despite reports to the contrary, the Bills have not reached a contract agreement with linebacker Brandon Spikes, who is visiting the team today, says Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Caplan adds in a second tweet that the two sides may eventually work something out, but nothing is particularly close at this point.

FA Rumors: 49ers, Tate, Rams, Melton, Bills

March 14th, 2014 at 11:47am CST by Luke Adams

News of signings and visits is gradually slowing down as we approach the 72-hour mark of free agency, but there are plenty of players still seeking contracts, and it wouldn’t be surprising if a number of those free agents find deals today. Here’s the latest on a few available players:

  • The 49ers are comfortable heading into 2014 with Chris Culliver and Tramaine Brock as their starting cornerbacks, but are willing to offer Tarell Brown a three-year, $10MM deal to return, tweets Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com.
  • Free agent running back Ben Tate‘s visit with the Browns is continuing into today, reports Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com (Twitter link).
  • The Rams “aren’t quite done” in free agency, according to head coach Jeff Fisher (Twitter link). Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com notes that the team remains interested in free agent guards Daryn Colledge and Davin Joseph.
  • Speaking of Fisher, the Rams will host one of his former players from Tennessee, as wide receiver Kenny Britt is scheduled to visit St. Louis, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
  • Earlier today, we heard that Henry Melton was en route to Seattle to visit the Seahawks after spending the night in Minnesota. After his Seattle meeting, Melton will visit the Cowboys, tweets Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
  • The Bills have confirmed that free agent running back Anthony Dixon and linebacker Brandon Spikes are visiting the team today, according to Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com.
  • Chris Russell of ESPN Radio (Twitter link) hears that cornerback Walter Thurmond is no longer scheduled to visit the Redskins.
  • Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star explores the Colts‘ signing of Phil Costa and their rumored interest in Alex Mack, suggesting that Costa represents a solid fallback starting option at center if the team is unable to land Mack.

AFC East Notes: Spikes, Colon, Byrd

March 7th, 2014 at 9:09am CST by Luke Adams

Earlier this morning, we passed along word that the Jets, unsurprisingly, intend to exercise their fifth-year 2015 option on defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson. We’ve got a few more updates and notes from out of the AFC East, so let’s dive in and check them out…

  • Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes said this morning on NFL Network that, while he hasn’t entirely ruled out the possibility of re-signing in New England, he thinks he and the Patriots could both “benefit from a fresh start,” tweets Field Yates of ESPNBoston.com. We heard earlier this week that the two sides aren’t discussing a new deal and that Spikes is expected to hit the open market.
  • Also apparently headed to the open market: Jets guard Willie Colon, according to Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com (via Twitter). Colon is recovering from biceps surgery and has had problems with penalties throughout his career, but he’s also a very good pass blocker, so it’ll be interesting to see what kind of interest he receives.
  • Aaron Williams, who signed a long-term contract extension with the Bills this week, said on SiriusXM NFL Radio that fellow Buffalo safety Jairus Byrd also remains interested in re-signing with the team, as far as he knows (hat tip to Pro Football Talk): “I know that they’re still negotiating. I don’t want to speak on their situation because I have no say, nor do I know the full story on it, but I know Jairus does want to come back and wants to be a part of something special.”

FA Rumors: Spikes, Jackson, Mack, Graham

March 3rd, 2014 at 12:04pm CST by Luke Adams

With the 2014 free agent period now eight days away, we’re starting to get a clearer idea of which players will actually be available when we turn the calendar to March 11, and a new league year begins. Plenty of free-agents-to-be will still be locked up between now and then, but many more will hit the open market, and perhaps change teams. Here’s the latest on a number of current or prospective free agents:

  • The Patriots and Brandon Spikes aren’t discussing a new deal, meaning the linebacker appears likely to become a free agent and sign elsewhere, writes Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald.
  • Having met with the Broncos and Titans already, linebacker D’Qwell Jackson is on his way to Miami today to visit the Dolphins, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (via Twitter). The former Brown has a leg up on this year’s class of free agent linebackers, since he’s free to sign prior to March 11 if he so chooses.
  • The Browns‘ brass met with center Alex Mack this weekend, and are serious about mending fences with Mack that may have been torn down by the old regime, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
  • In the view of ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link), the Seahawks and Packers should be open to the idea of signing Jimmy Graham to an offer sheet and giving up two first-round picks to snatch him away from the Saints. However, Peter King of TheMMQB.com doesn’t think giving up a pair of top picks for the right to pay Graham $12MM per year is worth it.
  • Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com takes a look at the Saints‘ perspective when it comes to negotiating a new deal for Graham.
  • Chris Murray, the agent for defensive back Marcus Sherels, is optimistic that he and the Vikings will complete a deal for his restricted free agent client before March 11, tweets Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
  • The Giants will be bringing back exclusive rights free agent OL Dallas Reynolds, says Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News (via Twitter).
  • Pro Football Focus has released a list of its top 75 free agents.

NFC East Notes: Jordan, Eagles, ‘Skins, Giants

March 2nd, 2014 at 1:41pm CST by Dallas Robinson

If Dolphins defensive end Dion Jordan is actually on the trade block, as some reports suggest, the Eagles would make for an exceptional trade partner, writes Phil Sheridan of ESPN.com. While Jordan struggled mightily in his first season in Miami, he did play under Eagles head coach Chip Kelly while both were at Oregon. Kelly, who had Jordan rated among the top four prospects in the 2013 draft, would seem to know exactly how to get the best production of the second-year end. As far as compensation, Sheridan notes that while the Dolphins could be interested in defensive end Brandon Graham or running back Bryce Brown, the most likely scenario would entail the Eagles sending draft picks to South Beach in exchange for Jordan.

Other notes from around the NFC East:

  • In a mailbag segment, Sheridan argues that the Eagles should let safety Nate Allen leave via free agency, writing that a fresh start would be best for both player and team. He goes on to list safety, edge rusher, and cornerback as the three most important positions for the Eagles to fill this offseason.
  • Geoff Mosher and Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com profile free agent defensive end Lamarr Houston, and examine his fit with the Eagles. Mosher doesn’t think Houston would be enough of an upgrade to be worth the dollars he will command, while Franks believes Houston’s time with an unwatchable Raiders squad might depress his value.
  • There are several names that could be of interest to the Redskins when free agency begins, writes Rich Tandler of RealRedskins.com. He lists defensive end Arthur Jones, offensive guard Geoff Schwartz, and linebacker Brandon Spikes as possible fits. The Redskins have almost $30MM in cap space with which to work.
  • In a piece for CSNWashington.com, Tandler notes that the NFL Network’s Charley Casserly believes the Redskins will look to get bigger along the offensive line. “If you think of [new Redskins head coach Jay] Gruden in Cincinnati, they had a much bigger offensive line than what he’s inheriting in Washington,” said Casserly. “So they need to get bigger to be able to drop-back pass better.”
  • Donald Brown, Ben Tate, and Rashad Jennings could all be options for the Giants at running back, opines Dan Graziano of ESPN.com. The team could also look to re-sign Andre Brown, and hope for contributions from David Wilson as he recovers from a neck injury.